Top 26 Coolest Wedding Venues in the United States

Once engaged, you’ll quickly begin to ask yourself, “Where should I get married?!” The are so many options for wedding venues and everyone will have an idea of the perfect wedding venue for you….but you need to feel that the venue is right for you, so we’re here to help! You know us, we just love unique + rad wedding venues, so you came to the right source for the best places to get married!

Whether you’re looking to get married in a greenhouse, in a castle, up in a treehouse, a rustic and refined barn, or possibly even a summer camp—no location is too out of the box! We have you covered with our list of the best places to get married, so let’s check ’em out (in no particular order)…

The 26 Coolest Wedding Venues in the US

If you’ve dreamed of a destination wedding in Hawaii, but sandy beaches aren’t exactly what your thing, you’ve got to check out Haiku Mill. An ancient sugar plantation filled with old world elegance, this wedding venue features ornate, hand-picked treasures from around the world and is surrounded by fragrant jasmine and gardenia blossoms. The courtyard opens up to the the beautiful Hawaiian sky—reminding everyone of the beauty of the island. We can’t get over the charm + uniqueness of the space and know your guests will be truly captivated by the romance of the setting.

We stopped by Haiku Mill during one of our trips to Maui and walked the grounds with owner, Sylvia Hamilton-Kerr. Her guided tour, complete with stories of the property’s history, her plans for it and how she curated her collection of pieces and installations from places as far as flea markets across France made us love it even more. Truly a magical spot on a magical island and truly one of the best places to get married!

We can’t imagine a more unique (or fantastical) wedding venue to tie the knot than a real treehouse! Treehouse Point, conveniently located just 30 minutes from Seattle, is tucked away in a beautiful forest brimming with all of the beauty of nature that you can imagine. We love how the Treehouse offers overnight accommodations—can you imagine waking up in one?! Surely a one-of-a-kind experience for both you and your guests!

When it comes to finding the perfect wedding venue, are you ready to get creative and think a little outside of the box! It doesn’t get much more unique than, or romantic for that matter, getting married under one of Portland’s most famous bridges, St. John’s Bridge. Ever dedicated to the cause, the duo above camped out over night (in the middle of winter!), to secure their spot at Cathedral Park… And it was 100% worth it! Sometimes a bit of exploring will help you discover one of the new best places to get married :)

Santa Ynez is in California, but once you step onto the grounds of Sunstone Villa you feel as though you’ve been transported to a coastal Mediterranean castle. This winery is comprised of 55-acres and magnificent Old World-inspired architecture. In fact, it was built from imported limestone from a small village in France, and the wood beams and roof tiles are reclaimed from a 19th-century lavender factory.

Dream of getting married amongst a field of colorful ranunculus flowers?! Well, you can do that at the gorgeous Ranunculus Flower Fields in Carlsbad, California. You’ll need to plan your wedding for when the colors are in bloom – so think mid-March to mid-April – and the colorful fields make the perfect spot for your wedding photos! The ceremony space overlooks the flower fields and they also have a barn for your reception that holds up to 200. This is surely one of the best places to get married for a flower lover!

Big Daddy’s Antiques in LA and SF is a one-of-a-kind retailer of antiques and reproductions from European, Asian, and North American markets. Fun for a day trip to stroll around, yes, but lucky for couples looking for a super unique wedding venue, they also hold weddings and have quickly become a sought after spot to say I Do!

Built in the 1920s, the space has lived many lives during its century of use (a former hotel, brother, fish and oyster company, glass blowing space and more). Its varied history informed the reinvention of the space into a modern venue. From the dramatic greenhouse roof life to the eye-catching blue facade, there is no shortage of pretty vignettes here. One of the best parts of Valentine? How easily it can shift its dimensions: you can host an intimate gather for less than 100 people, or a large reception with up to 500 guests…..versatility is important when considering places to get married.

Vibiana is a wedding, events and performing arts venue located in the Historic Core of Downtown Los Angeles owned and operated by Los Angeles restaurateurs Chef Neal Fraser, Amy Knoll Fraser and their partners.

The City’s first Archdiocese Catholic cathedral, Vibiana has been beautifully transformed into a stunning full service event facility with an extensive dining and craft libations program. It’s located in the Historic Core of Downtown Los Angeles owned and operated by Los Angeles restaurateurs Chef Neal Fraser, Amy Knoll Fraser and their partners – so you know the food will be amazing as well! We love the all white ceremony space and with a Main Hall and Garden Courtyard, the versatility of Vibiana is endless, offering a beautiful customizable back drop for your wedding!

And the most breathtaking wedding venue? How about getting married in the hills of Malibu on a helipad surrounded by vineyards?! We’ve been to Malibu Rocky Oaks and it is seriously as amazing as the photos. A wedding here will give your ceremony an amazing 360-degree view of the Santa Monica Mountains that makes you feel like you’re in the clouds! Follow the ceremony with dinner on long tables next to the pool…and your off to a wonderful start as a married couple and your friends and family will tell everyone about your day at one of the best places to get married!

We’ve seen quite a few GWS weddings held at Korakia Pensione …and for good reason! The cool venue in Palm Springs boasts stylish rooms and vignettes with a distinct Moroccan + Mediterranean feel. Dating back to 1924, the restored romantic villa will whisk you away to the Mediterranean Sea…while still remaining in Palm Springs.

Looking for a place to get married in Arizona that includes a backdrop with wow-factor? Then The Ice House is the coolest (see what we did there?) venue for you! As avant-garde as it is historic, the space began operations in 1920 as an icehouse for the food industry! Now, couples can tie the knot within its refined, industrial walls.

If there’s one thing you have to know about Dunton Hot Springs, it’s that it’s actually a restored ghost town! Not only are the surroundings stunning, but you can rent the entire town for your celebration. Renting the town gives you exclusive use of all that Dunton boasts: the original Dancehall & Saloon, Bathhouse, The Pony Express Yoga Studio, The West Fork Boxing Gym, their very own open air chapel, two spa treatment cabins, and 12 luxury cabins—each unique in size, charm and character from the next. We say YES to that!

For those who haven’t been to Montana, it’s one of the most well kept secrets and breathtakingly beautiful places. With starlit skies and untouched wilderness, Paws Up Resort provides a scenic backdrop for saying I Do. Since its claim to fame is the beauty of nature, any style or type of wedding will feel right at home at this stunning, picturesque setting. We love that they offer cabins and glamping for your guests as well as a ceremony outdoors, reception in a barn and rehearsal dinner outdoors by the creek.

We’ve visited several times and can attest that a few days of big sky country, outdoor activities + the tasty meals offered at Paws Up (as well as a stop at the spa) would be a great place to get married, as well as to rejuvenate any couple or guests!

Spain Ranch‘s new wedding venue outside Tulsa, Oklahoma is about to change everything you think you know about barns! The Black Barn is an intimate wedding venue (sitting on the same property as the equally as beautiful White Barn) and it’s the perfect setting for couples looking for a little something outside the norm. We’re talking matte black perfection!

Do you imagine yourself getting married in a chapel…but looking for something with a more modern feel? The Emerson in Texas, just outside of Dallas, is classic yet chic and can serve as the background for some seriously bold designs. We’re all about those crisps whites in the chapel—designed by Leanne Ford—and all the room it has…up to 200 guests!

Fusing Austin chic with Hill Country charm, we love this wedding venue at Vista West Ranch for so many reasons and think it’s an adorable place to get married! The setting is a unique blend of rustic + bohemian, making it the perfect recipe for a romantic + memorable venue for stylish Texas couples. One of our fave things about this venue? Their wedding packages include all the important essentials, so you get to focus on the fun things, like food + décor!

The Meekermark in Magnolia, Texas is as unique as it is historic; the barn—built in the 1830’s in Canada, was taken apart, transported, and reconstructed on this beautiful 12-acre property in Texas. The beauty is in the details as it combines original hand-carved timbers, as well as modern design features. Created by a family team of photographers, there is certainly no shortage of stunning views and vignettes to snaps those dreamy wedding photos.

Thorncrown Chapel is a beautiful glass cathedral in the woods of Arkansas—making it an amazing fit for our unique venue round up and an unforgettable setting for your wedding. The chapel may look cozy + quaint, but it seats up to 100 guests in its 6,000 square feet of glass (with 425 gorgeous windows!). We are in love with it’s one-of-a-kind, modern feel.

It’s no secret that we love a good camp wedding here at GWS, but one thing we noticed after a seeing a couple of them—some of our absolute faves took place at Cedar Lakes Estate! Cedar Lakes Estate (in the heart of the Hudson Valley) was once a 1920’s summer camp and now it is perfect for those dreamy of a camp wedding! The space is as lovely as it is inviting—describe your wedding as Moonrise Kingdom inspired? This place is for you! We love that you and your guests can stay on-site in cabins or the lodge! Pretty amazing, yes?!

Yes, we’re talkin’ bout Anthropologie’s counterpart, Terrain. You may have heard of Terrain in Glen Mills, but did you know that that Terrain has a new venue in Philadelphia? Say hello to Terrain Gardens at Devon Yard. The lush backdrop changes with the seasons, and are the perfect backdrop for the most magical spectacle. Just as stylish as you’d expect, Terrain is one of our favorite backdrops and a great option for something unique for Pennsylvania couples! Curious about their other venue? You can take a look at events held at Terrain in Glen Mills here!

Basilica Hudson, the newer wedding venue in Hudson, New York, was established in 2010 in a reclaimed 19th-century factory. Now serving as a non-profit multidisciplinary arts center, the venue represents a community of artists and musicians in the area. Oh, and since it is framed by the iconic Hudson River School and the Catskill Mountains, there is certainly no shortage of gorgeous views for wedding portraits.

Tennessee plays host to one of our fave farm venues. The idyllic scenery and luxurious accommodations at Blackberry Farm will give your day a rustic, yet elegant, feel. The farm generates a range of heirloom produce + the farmhouse, built using reclaimed wood, is one of the property’s most noteworthy features. We can see why! It would make for a perfect backdrop for a stunning wedding. Don’t you think?

Known as New Orlean’s most distinctive location for weddings, Race & Religious can host up to 300 guests in its romantic historical compound. The unique indoor-outdoor space is comprised of two masonry homes built in the 1830s and provides a great backdrop filled with all that NOLA charm. To top it off, R & R would be perfect place place to get married if you’re considering a destination wedding, because tell us one person who hasn’t mentioned wanting to visit New Orleans!

top photo courtesy of The Ruins at Barnsley Garden Resort and bottom photos by Austin Gros

Barnsley Resort gives Georgia couples a unique place to tie the knot with its beautiful setting amid its awe-inspiring ancient ruins. The storybook setting makes for a fun change of pace to typical southern weddings + is the perfect place to host a wedding (local or destination) with an epic vibe + view.

Nope, your eyes are not deceiving you! Although it looks like a little slice of Europe, Vizcaya Museum & Gardens is conveniently located in the heart of Miami. A jewel among Miami’s skyscrapers, they say. It’s both beautiful + serene and would make a perfect backdrop for couples who want a wedding with a European feel if traveling abroad is not an option.

We hope you enjoyed this peek at our personal fave US wedding venues. While finding the right spot is definitely important, we all know there are plenty of ways to make your wedding unique wherever it may be located! Our number one idea for creating an amazing setting just about anywhere?

So tell us, did you see a location on our list that caught your eye? Or did you already book one of these amazing venues? We’d love to get a fun convo started in the comments section below about your favorite places to get married! Tell us, and other couples why you hosting your wedding at a unique location is important to you! And if you are still looking for a rad venue, be sure to check out the Venues in the GWS Wedding Artist Guide!

If you own or run a rad location that didn’t make our list, let us know about it below. We’re always on the lookout for new venues!

52 comments

Comments

wow, what an amazing collection! I love that camp venue, and the glamping idea. A whole collection of favorite Camp style venues might be fun too (if you haven’t done it already) – that’s definitely where I’ll be shopping for my venue!

This list is so great!! Every other list I’ve found has been super lame, but I am obsessed with these venues!! Thanks for helping make my research a bit easier. Love your site by the way also – just found it the other day!!

This are some awesome venues!!! Would love to shoot at any of them! seriously, if any of you is getting married at any of them and gets me a ticket and accomodation I’ll photograph your wedding for free! ;)

This is a beautiful list, but I wish so many weren’t from California. Maybe there could be future posts of 50 beautiful venues with one per state. Or 10-20 prettiest from each region (southeast, northeast, midwest, etc.) I’d be happy to help with the research and southeast list especially. Always love GWS!!

Amazing locations!! Though, it always surprises me that Eastern Montana is always featured more than Western Montana – Glacier National Park, Flathead Lake and the Mission Mountains make some of the most breathtaking wedding backdrops!! So different than what you picture Montana to be!!

We had a beautiful wedding at 440 Seaton, and are happy to find it on this list here! We do, however, recommend that couples approach this venue with caution as we ran into many headaches when dealing with the venue coordinators (including a new contract with contradicting restrictions sent to us just three weeks before the wedding). Even though things weren’t as smooth as I had hoped, 440 Seaton had provided the venue of my dream wedding and I wouldn’t have had my wedding anywhere else!!!!!!!

My daughter and son in law were married at
Race and Religious in New Orleans French Quarter in March of 2012. Wedding couldn’t have been more perfect. Eclectic, vintage and absolutely gorgeous. Very unique. Everyone loved it. A must see. You won’t be disappointed.

Over here in the UK there are a few cool places to get married ~ take a look at our place, The Keeper and the Dell ~ a wonderfully secluded, outdoor wedding venue in Norfolk, UK. A beautiful collective of a traditional canvas marquee in a pretty woodland dell, an eighteenth century Gamekeeper’s barn, camping gardens and a little wood cabin

I was married on the Virginina / Kentucky state line at the Breaks Interstate Park, aka The Grand Canyon of the South. We are the only couple ever to marry at the Ampitheatre there. We’re big hikers and campers. Also I spent much of my childhood exploring this amazingly beautiful park. I’ve never seen any other wedding pics with that view!!! So many reasons I loved it! Best of all – it was FREE! Check out some pics on my website: http://www.knotsandsuch.com/event/amy-brant/

A beautiful selection. We invite you to virtually drop by our Hawaii island wedding venue. We have a pavilion in the rainforest and a treehouse for honeymoons. Although our specialty is intimate weddings and elopements, we also do full destination evemts at truly wonderful spots on the island.

The cool wedding destinations are romantíc dream for everyone. There ís an old sayíng ” Marríages are made ín heaven and celebrated on earth.” Everyone dreams of a larger than lífe weddíng. The only dífference ís the ídeas of marríage.

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